Prior played down suggestions that the New Zealand series is a warm-up for the Ashes which starts at Trent Bridge on 10 July.

England's Test summer

v New Zealand

1st Test, Lords, 16-20 May

2nd Test, Headingley, 24-28 May

v Australia

1st Test, Trent Bridge, 10-14 July

2nd Test, Lord's 18-22 July

3rd Test, Old Trafford, 1-5 August

4th Test, Chester-le-Street, 9-13 August

5th Test, The Oval, 21-25 August

"You can't have Test matches that are warm-ups," he said. "Every Test match is a special moment.

"You only have to walk into this ground at Lord's and walk out playing for your country.

"This series is massive. We had a tough series in New Zealand and we want to put in good performances and get a win.

"Winning is a habit and you want to get in that habit as soon as possible. Our best preparation whether it be the Ashes, India or New Zealand, is winning Test matches and we want to start on Thursday."

Prior's unbeaten century in Auckland which helped England draw the Test series against New Zealand also won the TwelfthMan Cricketing Moment of the Year Award, voted for by members of ECB's TwelfthMan fan community on Facebook.

Ben Foakes, the Essex and England Under-19s wicketkeeper-batsman, won the England Development Programme Cricketer of the Year award, while Matthew Dean, from England's Visually Impaired squad, was handed the England Disability Cricketer of the Year award.